by Sam Winston
When they came onto the Gentilly Stage in front of a thin crowd on what was otherwise a very packed last Sunday, I really had no idea what to expect. Then they picked up their guitars and absolutely dominated.

The Raconteurs basically put forth a hard cutting though soulful rock and roll that usually doesn’t slip past the baby-boomer funk loving talent net of the Jazz Fest. Led by Jack White of the White Stripes with Brendan Benson to his right on vocals and guitar along with the rest of the band behind them, they rocked the set so thoroughly that the leftovers from Galactic and early birds for the Radiators just looked at them and said “huh?” Read the rest of this entry »

by Sam Winston

An in-depth look at how the internet giants and New Orleans teamed up to challenge the very status quo of presidential debates. And what their chances are of succeeding.

“Their invitation had the distinct aura of something that had not been fumigated by the relevant authorities; in the increasingly big business of televised presidential debates, it was not an invitation at all, but a challenge—to the candidates, the major television networks, and to that man behind the curtain, the Washington-based nonprofit called the Commission on Presidential Debates.”- New York Observer

 by Sam Winston

Editor of the Weekly Standard and New York Times Columnist William Kristol, also a well-known neo-conservative pundit, has this column up today titled “McCain-Jindal?“

The speculation on Jindal, initially only a Rush Limbaugh-driven rumor, just won’t seem to die as John McCain keeps waiting to make his pick for a vice-president running-mate. This despite that most commentators have premised their mention of Jindal by saying he was probably too inexperienced. Jindal himself tried to quell the rumors but that was three months ago before Kristol’s column today in which Kristol cites at least 4 McCain aides informally mentioning Jindal for consideration and before McCain came to New Orleans and met with Jindal personally. For Kristol’s quotes on Jindal and further speculation on why Jindal’s name keeps getting mention, see below the fold. Read the rest of this entry »

“A woman who police believe to be Deborah Jeane Palfrey, known as the “D.C. Madam,” was found dead in Florida Thursday, according to Tarpon Springs police.” - CNN.com

by Sam Winston

Just before her set on the Acura Stage last Friday, I caught this practice run-through in her dressing room/trailer. Apparently her Jazz Fest set was a bit of a digression because she’s been playing the same music all by herself on stage recently. Using looping equipment, she plays every instrument, records it live, then triggers it and sings and plays over it simultaneously (she did a few like that to open the set). Same for her new album coming out except for one duet with Allan Toussaint. I admittedly can’t be a fair judge since I know her well enough to have been at her wedding, but I’d say its by far and away the most interesting music she’s ever put out. I think fans and non-fans alike will also be equally surprised at the depth of her new material. It pretty much redefines her. More here.

by Sam Winston

So says this CNBC article about how the team turned it around on the money side against all odds.

“What New Orleans’ success on the court — and recent string of sellouts prove — is that there is no such thing as a good or bad market. Everything is relative. All markets are driven by a variety of factors and winning tops all. “

(Hat tip: Kush Connection)

Wedged together with FDR, Kennedy, and Osama Bin Laden, you get Katrina images and the same voice and tone from the 3 a.m. phone ad as Senator Clinton’s final pitch before the voting tomorrow in Pennsylvania.

by Sam Winston

John McCain in his “It’s Time For Action Tour” is set to visit New Orleans’ 9th Ward.

Can New Orleans food compete with Salmon Rushdie and the Dalai Lama? That’s what Tulane is banking on in its competition with Emory over incoming students.

Also, six UPenn grads are headed to New Orleans continuing the “brain gain”

The LA Times draws a comparison between the mismanagement of Katrina and an outbreak of Dengue Fever in Brazil, saying lawmakers and public officials are keen to point fingers at one another.

Hornets coach Byron Scott gets soaring praise in a New York Times profile about him and the team. A must read for Hornets fans.

Fitting (hopefully) for the what ESPN writer John Hollinger calls the beginning of the “chess match” between Scott and Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.

Gambit Contributor and New Orleans writer Jason Berry is quoted in the latest national story on the Pope and the papacy’s challenge on the abuse scandal.

by Sam Winston

A Washington Post columnist reports of “ongoing whispers” that Jeremy Shockey could be traded to the Saints.

Also being reported is that Kobe Bryant is favored to win the MVP over Chris Paul, including an ESPN.com poll/balloting of their writers and reporters that narrowly favored Bryant. The real ballots are due Thursday at 3 p.m.

Saints negotiations with Deuce McCalister appear to be progressing but not 100 percent official yet.

by Sam Winston

Senator David Vitter won’t be called to testify in the DC Madame case as the collective phrase rings out across the media that Vitter “dodged a bullet.”

The Washington Post had perhaps the most insightful look into the trial itself. Saying it had become “a squalid, pathetic affair”, with no big names testifying, only humiliated former prostitutes giving painfully detailed accounts of their work.

As for the fallout, or lack thereof, our editor Clancy Dubos reported before the news broke that Vitter would not testify that the senator is still enjoying strong support among Republicans on capitol hill. Louisiana political analysts quoted in the Picayune and the Shreveport Times agreed that it was a major victory for Vitter but differed on how big of a factor it would be in Vitter’s 2010 re-election race.

A political satire website tried to make light of the issue by saying Barack Obama, in his latest tiff with Hillary Clinton over his remarks about working class voters being “bitter”, actually said “Vitter” (though not entirely all that funny).

More clever was bitter voters uniting on a new blog.

In other political news, Read the rest of this entry »